The inside story of Net Sound Net Sound is an outlet for the stetho system. The stetho system was developed by the Ohno Laboratory at the Tokyo Institute Technology and the WIDE Project (*1). This real-time system translates different communications protocols into MIDI sounds based on network traffic data (the TCP dump command). The original purpose of the stetho system was to support the management of networks. The system translates network traffic such that sounds can be heard via telephone even in a non-computer environment. In addition, the system facilitates understanding of the abnormal movements of networks. Data written by characters is not easy to understand, but with the stetho system one can hear the details of what is happening on a network. As the name indicates, the stetho system was developed to serve as a stethoscope for networks(*2)(*3). Sensorium staff were introduced to the folks at the Ohno Laboratory by Professor Jun Murai of the WIDE Project in December 1995. We were shocked by the group's impressive technology. Their various studies, including the stetho system, dealt not with the arcane intricacies of networks but rather with enhancing the natural communication that exists between networks and ordinary life. And what's more, the staff has a great sense of humor. There are many superb sites on the WWW. Yet what has motivated us -- and that which we feel is the miracle of the Internet -- is the building of a network that is alive. We explained to staff at the Ohno Laboratory that we wanted their help in creating systems through which participants could intuitively enjoy living networks. Then we began to work together. (*4) Later, the musician Suguru Yamaguchi(*5) joined our team. Following six months of development, the demo version of Net Sound debuted on the Internet in July 1996. Net Sound Ver. 1.0 was released on November 25, and features some major changes compared with the demo version. * The sounds have been changed. The sounds, which have been updated since July, may also be accessed at AIFF175K / WAV189K AU189K. *Applicable to RealAudio 3.0 (beta) Net Sound is an application of the stetho system (*6). The stetho system itself is targeted at network organizers, while Net Sound is for Internet users. Within the stetho system, the range of applications can be expanded. Notes: (*1) The stetho system was actually developed by Tetsuya Narita, who is a postgraduate student at the Ohno Laboratory. (*2) The stetho system permits networks to be monitored on a telephone through MIDI sound data. (*3) The stetho system might be thought of as an instrumental played simultaneously by network users and a wind-bell of the network environment. Indeed, the computers at the Ohno Laboratory are often given names of instruments: taiko (drum), harp, piccolo, and even harazutsumi (belly drum). (*4) Heavy Internet users often describe networks as being alive. In explaining the stetho system, Professor Ohno says, "I am obsessed with networks. Networks are just like children. When I'm away, it gets bad (laughs)." (*5) Suguru Yamaguchi has written music for TV commercials and game shows, played with a band called EXPO, written magazine columns, and currently runs a second-hand "Monde" record shop, Manual of Errors, in Koenji, Tokyo. (*6) Net Sound employs an AKAI digital sampler rather than MIDI sound data and then encodes simultaneously with RealAudio. The stetho system requires a telephone to listen to the sounds, whereas Net Sound uses RealAudio Player to provide the sound data on the Internet.

[previous page]

[back to sensorium Home page]